More than 300 people gathered on the European Square in the capital of Ukraine – Kiev – on July 3, to support Ukrainian language. The protested against the bill, which provides the increase of the status of Russian language in Ukraine, despite the fact that Russian language, is not a second official language in the country.

The number of protestors increased in the evening. There were around 20 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine among them. Ten of them and ten other citizens declared a hunger strike. They were all wearing headbands, saying «Hunger». Protestors that declared a hunger strike were planning on spending the night on camp-cots, ITAR-TASS reports.

Protestors were carrying flags of right wing and nationalistic parties and movements, banners, posters, demanding to cancel the new law. There were also slogans being voiced: «Shame on the government!»

Reinforced Police units were responsible for upholding order. However, conflicts erupted after law enforcement operatives began pushing protestors back from the entrance of the «Ukrainian home».

The opposition turned to the Chairman of Verkhovna Rada Vladimir Litvin with a demand not to sign the Law on Government’s Linguistic Policy, which was adopted with «violations of legislation procedures». This draft law was proposed by the Regions’ party. It allows officials and state institutions to use the language of national minorities in regions will at least 10% of Russian speakers. Therefore, the status of Russian language is increased in 13 out of 27 administrative territories, including Kiev and Sevastopol.

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